Local politicians are adding their voice to concerns over the shortage of physicians in Northwestern Ontario.
Sol Mamakwa says the Ford government must act immediately to stop threatened closures of emergency rooms this summer.
The Kiiwetinoong MPP has sent a letter to Health Minister Sylvia Jones calling for action.
The actions are as follows:
-The government must work with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) to create a system of incentives to recruit physicians to Northwestern Ontario. These incentives should not compete with one another.
-The government must provide equitable funding for full-time physicians in Northwestern Ontario, vs. locums.
-The government should incentivize internationally trained physicians to work in the North by expediting their ability to gain a license.
-The government should work with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) to incentivize postgraduate trainees to undertake their residency in Northern Ontario.
-The government should work with NOSM to ensure that locums that are coming to rural Northern Ontario can bring residents from their own institution.
-The government should increase opportunities – or even mandate return of service obligations – for students and residents to work in the North.
Meantime, Kenora MP Eric Melillo believes the Federal government has a role to play.
The Conservative says traditionally, healthcare has fallen within provincial jurisdiction but he believes there is more room for federal partnership to support our healthcare system beyond financial transfers.
He is advocating at the national level for a more streamlined process to ensure recent immigrants who are trained and qualified to work in our hospitals can have their education recognized.
Melillo adds an issue he often hears about is the lack of housing options available in many communities where more healthcare workers are needed, noting it is impossible to get more healthcare workers in our region if they have nowhere to live.
He is pushing for more affordable units to be built while also making it easier for developers to enter the market and expand the supply.
